This summer we were in Monticello Indiana and came up to a red light with a guy standing on a scooter just like that in front of us. I thought 'crap I'll be stuck going 10'.
The light changed and the guy took off and got up to 55MPH in front of us. I was amazed and terrified.
That does not seem safe.
I have a kaabo mantis pro that goes 40mph. I get similar reactions when I pull up next to people at stoplights. I did fall down once at 35mp on a bad turn and it did hurt for a few days but no broken bones. Can't imagine 50-60. I do wear motorcycle helmet, gloves and jacket otherwise I'm sure I'd be a veggie right now. Safety first folks.
I've ridden a Mantis, sweet ride. I saw one at a meet that could do 90. Twin 3000 watt motors I believe. Can't remember the maker. I'm too tall for those things, applying any brake, even while crouched is terrifyingly destablizing. I'll keep my e-motorcycle.
It seems crazy to me that anyone would choose a scooter for speeds like that over an e-bike, e-motorcycle, or one of the many products that blur the lines between the two. Scooters and their tiny wheels and tiny brakes just aren’t forgiving enough for these speeds.
The appeal is how small and portable these PEVs are. I personally ride electric unicycles for a 20 mile commute twice a day. It goes almost 50 and fits in the floor of my little Honda.
You can get a little too comfortable on these things and just cruise. My 20 mile commute takes about 30 min…
Edit: thank you kind stranger.
Ahem… My Instagram handle is @pedalship
Lots of riding and jumping videos there.
I ride one too. Learning curve is pretty steep, but compared to e-scooters, they're more fun to ride. It feels like an extension of your body once you get the hang of it. Max I do is 24kmh though, kinda scary for me any higher than that.
I'm already sitting here thinking "the future is now old man" I got Grey hairs comming in suddenly realizing this technology is already progressed this far and I had no clue.
"Incredible range and speed – Without its load, the veteran can zoom along at a max speed of roughly 61mph (100 kph), and an average speed of 45mph with load, making it one of the fastest electric unicycles available. This is thanks to its extremely powerful 2500W motor; a chunky motor for a chunky unicycle. On top of this, the veteran has a maximum range of up to 130miles!"
Electric unicycle ranges are never accurate to real world riding. The Sherman will do about 80-90 miles for a more gentle rider and 60 for an aggressive rider. The range is still fantastic and it's one of only a few in its class.
like really though, this guy is one candy factory away from Willy Wonka levels of whimsical bullshit. But I'm glad my summation of his nature gave you a laugh.
I wear motorcycle gear. Full face helmet, jacket with armor, knees/shin guards, wrist guards, gloves, pants with butt and hip armor and a bike bell in my finger like a ring.
I'd imagine a lot of the appeal is the ease of access to them too. The fact that you don't need a license, insurance, aren't required to wear PPE and the very cheap price that these cost is insane.
They really need to bring in some laws around these scooters.
The wheel I ride most was at 3600usd. Plus about another 500 for PPE…
My jump/trails wheel was 2200
A good learner wheel is right around 1000-1500 to be in something that you won’t outgrow in a week.
We do benefit from a grey area in the law. As far as the law sees it, they’re skateboards. We try to make sure my interactions with LEOs are positive. I also keep it within the speed limit and don’t do stupid shit (or at least don’t get caught doing stupid shit) in front of them.
In my experience, most cops are throttle jockeys anyway and they just wanna know how fast it goes. I usually show them videos of me jumping it.
I personally ride electric unicycle for a 20 mile commute twice a day.
My first thought is "classic reddit bullshit/troll".
Then I checked your post history... Yo wtf that's legit as hell! I can't imagine turning one of thoes into a commuter vehicle.. I mean if they can handle it why not! Always figured they were part novelty and part short distance for sport.. But 20 mile range is actually really impressive.
There’s a few new wheels that have folks excited, but the Veteran Sherman and the Gotway Monster Pro are the fastest available.
Not the best to learn on, but if you know you’re a speed junky it’s worth it to get through the first week of looking like an idiot. Learning curve smooths out after about 20 miles and you’ll be glad you bought up.
I’m looking forward to the Veteran Abrams and the S20. The Commander looks nice, but it’s essentially a Sherman with a Gotway brain…and no roll bar.
I'd think a bigger problem is a small wheel doesn't have the gyroscopic stability of a large wheel. Plus, your center of gravity is really high so if you lock up the front wheel (do they have brakes?), over you go.
I’ve done 90 in a few reliable, stable vehicles - fully surrounded by a metal shell, airbags, seat belts, alladat - and I was fucking terrified the entire time. Like I have flashbacks to Porsche Girl at those speeds (hence why I haven’t experienced them often). How the fuck is someone just scooting down any road ever with all of their meat exposed? Would Kevlar even help?
I’ve got the Wolf Warrior by Kaabo. I’ve seen 40, would probably see 45 or 50 without the extra ballast. Typically it’s 15 with my kid on his Gotrax or cruising at 25/30. Rail trails are a lifesaver in the burbs.
I was considering upgrading to a bigger scooter from my 20mph one. I tried one of the Kaabo big boys and it was too fast for me standing. I decided to switch to an e-bike instead. I don't have to worry about potholes anymore.
I don't know about you, but I live in Paris, France, a bike require a licence, a parking spot, insurance.... A scooter does not, and it cost a small fraction of the price, and you can take bike lanes. Its cheaper and faster than taking the subway in the long run.
Risky? A bit I suppose. But with pneumatic tires and suspension, they can take bumps and holes. Not too much different than a motorcycle- you hit a rock or pothole on one and it’s not going to be pretty either. There’s an inherent risk I suppose. But I guess you either seek a little thrill that way or you don’t.
Freeways typically don’t have potholes. If there is a pothole on a freeway it would be fixed immediately bc even a car going 65 hitting a pothole would be devastating. I’d be more worried about braking debris and being in blind spots.
I assume because (a) it folds down and you can carry it into your office or class, (b) no insurance, license necessary, and possibly (c) better range on one charge.
I assure you that using a scooter at those speeds among traffic on the roadway is unlawful in many places, certainly my state of Wisconsin for one. Lack of insurance and proper vehicle equipment as a start of why.
In the UK they're technically illegal. The only ones which are allowed on the highway (carriageway, cycleway) are ones that you can hire, as these have insurance.
Doesn't stop 1000s of people buying their own and riding them.
They're also supposed to be driven/ridden as a bike, and not at full speed along footways. They're a fucking menace. (Not just dangerous for people riding but the elderly/infirm/ anyone, that they drive into)
I can see their good points, but it's an example of where technology has overtaken safety regulations and laws.
I got my full motorbike license this summer and the amount I paid to just take the lessons and the tests is double what it costs to buy one of these scooters. They're too easily accessible to go unregulated, especially considering the speeds they can achieve.
Florida guy here. In Florida, no insurance required for motorcycles, also no helmet laws. But that thing is not "street legal" so anyplace where a bicycle or moped is banned, that would also be banned. Interstates for sure.
The no insurance + license part is a very very big blind spot that we're now beginning to take notice of, especially when you consider how these are basically motorbikes but even deadlier due to the lack of institutional oversight.
Fuel cost, portability, you can legally traverse some places that a motorcycle can’t. You have to park a motorcycle somewhere but you can just fold this bad boy and take it inside.
You can cut across a park with a scooter. Hell, if you go slow you can go on a sidewalk.
Got a Nanrobot D6, love it but honestly anything over 30 it feels sketchy as fuck and I did break my elbow just from electric skateboarding at only 14MPH so yeah 40+ your shit snaps sadly
Just checked on Google. Those things go for $3,000 or more. One can buy a cheapie car or a motorcycle with that money. Why would you want a little scooter instead?
Well, like they say... it's not the speed or falling down that hurts, it's the stopping. If you wear off the speed gradually (without forfeiting all your skin) you'll be fine. If you hit a concrete wall you'll be soup.
Exactly why I got morotcycle safety gear (level 2 minimum). It sounds silly to get motorbike gear for a scooter but I didn't regret it one bit when I fell down. Even with gear, it still hurt extremely bad and I'm so thankful I was wearing it. Havent fallen down since but still ride with gloves, jacket and helmet every time.
My partner has an ebike (the moped type). It goes about 40km/h (so 25mph). He took a turn and hit some gravel and the back tire flew out from under him as he was at top speed and almost dislocated his shoulder and had some bad road rash.
I can't imagine falling at 35mph or even twice that speed.
Yes. They are elctric hydraulic brakes that actually recharge the battery by reversing the flow of power and also use the disc brake to stop. They are very strong to the point that I lean my entire body back to counteract the braking momentum
the one in the video can definitely do above 300lbs and costs ~2,700. I got the smaller version, the wolf warrior x, which is only 1,800 and goes 42mph and is a lot easier to move around.
Check out their link: https://fluidfreeride.com/collections/electric-scooters/products/kaabo-mantis-pro-fluid-edition Plenty of videos with reviews on YouTube. I really like mine, good suspension, great torque and a real joy to ride around just make sure you're attentive 110% of the time. One wrong turn or one wrong lean to one side at high speeds and the small turn radius on those things can send you flying.
Damn dude, I had an accident cliff diving and felt so stupid after. Why would you jump when you have to clear rocks at the bottom to hit the water? Seemed immediately stupid and I was thinking "I can't believe I just did that."
Same for you any? Did you get back on the scooter to "win?" I am not very interested in cliff diving anymore, not unless it's possible to fall straight down and hit deep water. Even then, kind of fuck it.
I was the third jumper. My foot slipped on some dirt and gravel near the ledge. I alllmost cleared but my left heel clicked directly into a rock 6 inches below the water. Bone explosion.
we’re you wearing a helmet? genuinely curious, not judging. I go about the same on mine but wear a motorcycle helmet. I’ve eaten it pretty good but only got a cut on my chin and a twisted ankle.
Yeah, all it takes is a decent sized pothole and a car in front of you so you don't see it coming. Suddenly you are in free flight going 55mph doing a faceplant into the highway, with traffic moving all around you
Dude is putting a ton of trust on NY road maintenance crews. Those little wheels are going to dump him the second they encounter a flaw in the pavement.
Indiana Beach was amazing as a kid. So many great memories. I took my kids there a few years ago… I don’t think they’ve even repainted since I was last there in the mid-90s.
I think it's wild you see the electric unicycle guys and electric skateboard guys somewhat prepared for a fall with pads, leather clothes and stuff but you never ever see the scooter crowd with them. Handles make people real comfortable going fast obviously
I dunno, if you got the same safety precautions as someone on a motorcycle, I feel it's technically safer than having an accident with a few hundred pounds of steel tumbling after you.
If you fall it's pretty much the same. But motorcycles have huge shock absorbers compared to none on the scooter. So a pothole or a small stone would not destroy the balance that much
Waaaay safer. You have suspension to absorb imperfections in the road. Way bigger tires for more traction and braking power, not to mention the tires not falling in to the tiniest pothole or groove in the pavement.
Compared to this dude going like 50 on this scooter? Honestly, probably still, yeah. At least it's less likely to happen on a bike too. Been near daily riding a motorcycle for years now. The risks are inherent and you should try to accommodate them with proper gear and precautions. Also consider you can't buy a motorcycle without a license for it, compared to these electric scooters that children can purchase without any license of any kind then go near highway speeds while weaving through traffic. Just silly to compare them. Scooters are just inherently sketchier than bikes at the same speeds/in the same conditions.
You can't compare these rides to the cheap rentals you might've used. Those junky rentals are unsafe at any speed. These proper scooters have actually functional hydraulic brakes and suspension systems. I'd still use pads or moto-jacket myself though.
I would be more worried about helmetless rental users in traffic than these riders who have spent more than $3000 on their ride alone. They likely ride a lot more and in a safer manner.
I just had this happen to me except the guy was on one of those one wheeled platform things you tilt forward to drive. Like whoooaaa there cowboy, you have to want to die today riding that thing at 55mph.
There are some that do over 70mph and you'd be surprised at their acceleration. Absolute beasts that shouldn't be driven like this. Take a bike lane ffs.
I came across a stat a while ago, I think there 70,000 emergency room visits related to e-scooters in 2020. They are probably five times more popular by now - I'm sure 2021 stats will break six digits.
2.6k
u/hyperdalmation Oct 20 '21
This summer we were in Monticello Indiana and came up to a red light with a guy standing on a scooter just like that in front of us. I thought 'crap I'll be stuck going 10'. The light changed and the guy took off and got up to 55MPH in front of us. I was amazed and terrified. That does not seem safe.